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Middlebrooks leads Scorpions to first victory

Middlebrooks leads Scorpions to first victory

Will Middlebrooks hit .285 with 23 homers and 94 RBIs in 116 games across three Minor League levels.

By David Heck
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Special to MLB.com |

Will Middlebrooks wasted little time getting his bat going Friday, homering on the third pitch he saw. He didn't stop there.

The Red Sox third base prospect finished 3-for-4 with two RBIs and two runs scored, falling a triple short of the cycle, as the Scottsdale Scorpions defeated the Phoenix Desert Dogs, 7-3.

Selected in the fifth round of the 2007 Draft, Middlebrooks hit .285 with 23 homers and 94 RBIs in 116 games across three Minor League levels this season. The Red Sox No. 4 prospect spent most of the year with Double-A Portland, where he batted .305.

Also enjoying a three-hit night was No. 1 overall prospect Mike Trout, who doubled in a run in the first and came around to score in the seventh. The 20-year-old outfielder batted .326 with 11 homers and 33 steals in 91 games at Double-A Arkansas, adding five homers and four steals in 40 games with the Angels.

Phillies prospect Tyson Gillies went 2-for-2 with a pair of singles and two walks for the Scorpions (1-2), scoring three times.

Michael Choice, the A's No. 2 prospect, hit his second Fall League homer, a two-run shot in the first. Reds No. 5 prospect Yasmani Grandal tacked on an RBI double.

Trailing by four runs in the ninth, the Desert Dogs loaded the bases as Corban Joseph (Yankees) singled, Choice was hit by pitch Cody Puckett (Reds) walked. Nationals reliever Pat Lehman fell behind 3-0 against Rob Segedin before striking out the Yankees outfield prospect to end the game.

Austin Fleet (Giants) earned the win, striking out three over two innings of hitless relief.

Reds farmhand Donnie Joseph took the loss after giving up two runs on three hits in the fifth.

David Heck is a contributor to MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.